TACLOBAN CITY – A high-ranking official of the New People’s Army (NPA) was killed in an encounter with the military on Thursday, July 25, in General MacArthur, Eastern Samar.
Brig. Gen. Noel Vestuir, commander of the 802nd Infantry Bridade, identified the fatality as Joel Guarino, alias Duran.
Guarino was the leader of Squads 1 and 2 of Apoy Platoon, Sub-Regional Committee Sesame, of the Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee.
Vestuir said that the 78th Infantry Battalion encountered Guarino who was with about six remnants of Squads 1 and 2 in the vicinity of Barangay Osmena at about 9:25 a.m.
No casualties were reported on the government side, Vestuir said.
Troops recovered a caliber .45 pistol allegedly owned by Guarino.